Alec Saunders SquawkBox

Let’s face it. You want one of these. Technologically advanced (or, at least, that’s my excuse for putting it into this blog…), sophisticated European design, fuel efficient (6L/100 km, or 39 mpg), and capable of a zippy 185 km/h (120 mph).

“It” is the Vandenbrink Carver One.

Geeks everywhere (that means you!) will be lining up to buy this puppy. Who cares if it retails for $45K US?

Andy Abramson, in his investigative reporter role, writes about an apparent Linksys / FONAV LOI left on on a public internet access terminal at VON Europe.  I also received a copy of the same MOU in email, from another source.  Suffice it to say, it’s the hot gossip coming out of VON Europe.

From the looks of things, Linksys and FONAV will be developing an integrated WiFi handset, basestation and PC software.  If the deal comes to pass, we’ll know more by this fall. My initial reaction?  It will be interesting to see how this differs from that abject failure, the Microsoft MP-900 Cordless Phone System, other than, of course, that this will be WiFi. 

The annual Canadian Technology Association Innovation Awards nomination form is out, and iotum is nominated in the Emerging Technology category.  Cool!

Martin Geddes’ An Ugly Picture In A Gold Frame highlights the different worldviews that the internet and network operator camps have.  Worth a read, along with his commentary on the KPN presentation that preceded it.  His commentary on social value of common services is particularly scathing too: “the roads don’t generate much profit either, and we aren’t metering the turds as they flow down the sewers and billing based on how much curry you ate. But the purpose of such common infrastructure is to enable the rest of commerce and society to operate.”

 

Rick Segal is doing a three week road trip this summer with Shel Israel.  They’re networking with entrepreneurs everywhere, and Rick’s side agenda is to promote Canada as a great place to set up shop, as opposed to Silicon Valley.  I agree, to a certain extent, but part of what makes Silicon Valley special is the immense number of network opportunities available to people there.  This comment on Rick’s post, from JigZaw’s Shannon Clark is especially worth reading.  It neatly illustrates the conundrum that all tech centers outside the Valley face, including Toronto and Ottawa.  And that, by the way, is the point of efforts like Mesh, Barcamp, and DemoCamp. 

What else could we be doing to better network? What do you think?